March 8th is International Women’s Day. An occasion to celebrate the progress made towards achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment but also to strive for a greater momentum towards gender equality worldwide. Women’s day does not only recognize the extraordinary acts of women but encourages us all, to stand together, to advance gender equality around the world.
This year, staff from APOPO in Tanzania, joined other women of Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) as well as wider Morogoro residents, to honor International Women’s Day in Gairo with District Commissioner of Mvomero Hon. Judith Nguli. The theme for the day and the event was “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality.” The United Nations (UN) has found that bringing women into technology results in more creative solutions and has greater potential for innovations that meet women’s needs and promote gender equality. This year’s theme aims to ensure that women and girls not only benefit from the opportunities provided by technological transformation, but also, that they can contribute to shaping it.
Interview with Pendo
We caught up with our very own Pendo Msegu, APOPO Training and Animal Welfare Supervisor, to learn more about her experiences in relation to this year’s theme and provide an opportunity to highlight the roles in improving access to digital tools. Pendo started out at APOPO as a Data Entry Clerk 14 years ago where she learnt the importance of data and what it can tell us about a rat’s performance and how it informs policy on training. Her love of animals and interest in the African giant pouched rats moved her to a new position training mine detection rats, and from 2015, she is also serving as the Training and Animal Welfare Supervisor at APOPO’s Training Center in Morogoro, Tanzania.
How does technology help you with your daily tasks?
“We need to value ourselves as women; we are capable and can keep up with the pace of technological change. I am constantly learning new things in order to perform better in my job. I’ve learnt how to use several computer programs that help with data entry and keeping track of the rat’s progress.Technology also assists me with planning, implementation, and timely reporting of my duties.”
What did you take away from the Women’s Day speeches?
“It was a memorable occasion, not only for me, but for all of the APOPO women who took part. We had the opportunity as women to reflect on the steps that are being taken to achieve gender equality, and we were encouraged to use existing technology to increase our knowledge, creativity, and skills at work. We shared stories about how technology, such as the positive use of digital tools and services to address our needs, especially for education, health, and to help us improve our social and economic standing.”
Is there a link between the 2023 Women’s Day theme and what you do at APOPO?
“The rat detection technology itself is a unique concept; the minds behind it have innovated a fast and cost-effective solution to save human lives. There was a time when I was one of just a few female trainers at APOPO but I have seen how APOPO strives to offer the job to the best person for it regardless of gender. Over the years women have increased to 40% of the staff numbers here in Morogoro. Furthermore, we have a woman as the Head of Training and Innovation, Dr. Cindy Fast, who oversees all projects and innovations at the Morogoro Center. Our Quality Assurance officer is a woman, Judy Karue. Women are also leading our new research projects. Dr. Izzy Szott and Dr. Danielle Giangrasso, who are using their skills and creativity to move research projects into operations. A lot of communication and data is made available to us women via mobile phones and computers. I love learning to use new digital tools like mLIMS, a user-friendly web and mobile colony management system that helps us to put all of our animal resource management tasks in one place.”
What advice would you give to women, or the world in general?
“A woman plays an important role in the community, and any progress toward success begins with women. We need the opportunity to make things happen; a woman can raise awareness and send positive messages to her children and the youth in general. When women and girls are left out of tech and innovation spaces, those digital tools may fail to meet their needs. Women are a minority in both STEM education and careers. We must fight this underrepresentation that is influenced by stereotypes and show our girls that they can do anything they want to including safely following a path in STEM. We are the biggest examples to them!”
HOW YOU CAN TAKE ACTION:
APOPO employs some amazing women in our programs. Often these women challenge traditional stereotypes and become voices for change in their own communities.
Support APOPO in honor of #IWD2023.
Follow us on social media to get news on our projects: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.